Apparatus for covering insulated electrical conductors



(No Model.) l 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

' E. MOKNIGHT.

APPARATUS FOR COVERING INSULATED ELECTRICAL GONDUGTORS.

' Patented Nov. 1, 1887.

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TORS.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2..

ALGON (1 NOV.

Pat 6 .HMQKNIGH OVERING INSULATED LE TRI ATUIS FOR '0 (No Model.)

' PB R UNITED. ST TES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM P. TATH AM,

HENRY B.

SAME PLACE.

TATHAM, AND JAMES TATHAM, OF

APPARATUS FOR COVERING INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 372,550, dated November 1. 1887.

Application flltd July 22, 1887. Serial No. 244,980. (No model.)

To a, whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD MOKNIGHT, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Apparatus for Covering Insulated Electrical Conductors, of hich the following is a specification.

My invention consists of an improvement in the attachment for lead-pipe presses shown and described in the patent of James Tatham, No. 327,835, dated October 6, 1885, the object of my invention being to prevent injury to the insulating-covering of an electrical conductor whirh is being sheathed with hot lead orother duetilelnetal by the action. of the press.

In the accompanying'drawings, Figure 1 is a transverse section, partly in ,elevation, of sulficient of the press to illustrate my invention; Fig. 2, an enlarged view of part of the press; and Fig. 3, a sectional. plan view on theline 1 2, Fig. 2.

In Fig. 1, A represents part of the hydraulic cylinder of a lead-pipe press; B, part of the plunger of the same; D, thelead-reservoir carried thereby; F, the interposed hollow column, with lateral passage a, and G the upper fixed ram bolted to the cap H, which is secured to the cylinder A by means of posts or pillars b.-

Upon the hollow. column F is supported a block, J, having a central chamber and opposite lateral passages, and into a threaded opening in the bottom of the block is screwed the die M, the projecting portion of the latter being contained in a recess in the column F. There is also a threaded opening in the top of the block J, and into this opening is screweda hollow core, N, the upper end of which fits snugly to a block, g, in the lower endof the hollow ram G. A

The core-N has a detachable lower end or nose, P, held in place by a set-screw,m, this detachable nose being tapered externally and projecting into the opening of the die.

The above apparatus was devised for the purpose of covering insulated electrical conductors with lead and other ductile metal, the insulated wire being drawn through the cap H, ram G, and hollow core, and out through the lateral opening a of.the column F'.

The reservoir being filled with hot lead, the

plunger B was elevated sons to cause said reservoir to rise, the ram G pressing upon the lead in the reservoir and forcing the same through the die M, around the end P of the hollow core, and onto the insulated wire, the 5 latter being drawn through the core by the pipe as the latter was formed, and the sheathed wire being discharged through the lateral passage of the hollow column.

In practice it was found that when the wire was insulated with rubber or like material which would be softened or injured by heat the insulation was rendered defective, owing to the heat of the hollow core and its nose, through ,which the insulated conductor was compelled to pass, the effect of the heat being especially noticeable upon that portion of the conductor which remained in the core during the time that the reservoir was being recharged with hot lead. In order to overcome this ob- 7o jection I provide the core and its nose with a lining, w, of asbestus or other non-conducting material, which will serve to protect the insulated conductor from the injurious influence of the heat to which said core and its nose are subjected.

The lining of the nose may be independent of that of the upperpart of the core, as shown, or the lining may be continuous throughout, if desired; and said lining may be formed by forc- 8o ing a non-conducting tube of the proper size into the core, or by ramming powdered, grauular, or fibrous non-conducting material into the core and around a suitable former, which is then withdrawn to form the passage for the conductor. The lining should extend as close as possible to the discharge end of the corenose, it being preferable, however, to form an internal shoulder, -w, near the point of the nose, so as to provide a support for the lining. 0

A perforated pipe, 3 is located beneath the die, so as to throw jets of water onto the covering of the conductor immediatev it issues from the die, and in order to thoroughly cool said covering before the conductor is wound upon the reel the said covered conductor is preferably passed through a water trough placed between the press and the reel.

My improved lined core, while effectually preventing the destruction or impairment of I00 the insulating covering of the conductor, is not open to the objection to a water-chambered core, which has a tendency to chill the lead in the reservoir and necessitates the use of in- 5. creased power to force the same through the die. l

I claim as my invention- L The combination of the reservoir, ram,

and die of a. lead-press with a hollow core' 16 forming a passage for an electrical conductor,

and provided with a fixed lining of non-condncting material, all substantially as specified. 2. The combination of the reservoir, ram, and die of a lead-pipe press with the hollow I 5 core and its discharge nose, each provided with a non-conducting lining, all substantially as specified.

3. The combination of the reservoir, ran],

and die of the press, the hollow cor having an internal shoulder near the point, and a non- 2o conducting core-lining having abearing upon said shoulder, all substantially as specified.

4. The combination of the reservoir, ram, die, and hollow core of the press with a perforated pipe located adjacent to the die, and constructed to discharge streams of water upon the covering of the conductor as it issues from the die, all substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two sub- 30 scribing witnesses.

EDWARD MOKNIGHT.

Witnesses:

WiLLIAM D. CONNER, HARRY SMITH. 

